On 2 November 2017, before noon, the participants in the on-site session of the SCO Ambassadors Club met with Head of the Political Affairs Department at the Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Zhang Jianzong and other officials.
The meeting focused on ways to promote international economic cooperation with an emphasis on the possibility of attracting SAR business circles to participate in the implementation of infrastructure projects in Eurasia.
SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov spoke about the Organisation's prospects in this area, following the expansion of the SCO membership. "This year, the SCO became the world's largest regional organisation with an overall consumer market of more than 3 billion people. The Organisation has unique opportunities for creating value-added production chains, which paves the way for highly profitable long-term investment in joint capital-intensive projects on the SCO territory," Mr Alimiov said.
Zhang Jianzong, for his part, stressed the importance of the upcoming Hong Kong Business Forum that will be attended by representatives of Eurasian countries. This event, he said, will lay a good foundation for economic ties between Hong Kong and the Eurasian countries, and set the stage for cooperation with the SCO member states. Hong Kong has impressive opportunities in such areas as innovations, finance and infrastructure, and opts for broader cooperation with countries of the region, the Hong Kong official said.
Later in the day, the club's members met with Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Leung Chun-ying. Their conversation focused on the development of multilateral economic cooperation in Eurasia, as well as Hong Kong's innovative potential in transport, finance, telecommunications and infrastructure construction and the possibility of using it in the SCO member states. Leung Chun-ying welcomed the SCO Ambassadors Club's participation in the Business Forum, seeing it as part of efforts to establish and build up economic cooperation with the SCO countries.
Leung Chun-ying also said that the establishment of strong economic ties with the SCO countries has become a priority for Hong Kong. He added that Hong Kong has large practical interest in cooperation with the SCO member states and in joint efforts to promote sustainable development. Mutual involvement in the implementation of the One Belt, One Road initiative will definitely contribute to this, he said.
Speaking about the SCO's increasing role in international affairs, Leung Chun-ying stressed that the business and administrative circles of Hong Kong are ready to cooperate with the SCO Secretariat and member states. "Working jointly will enable us to unlock the potential of Greater Eurasia in a new way," he concluded.
On 3 November 2017, members of the SCO Ambassadors Club will attend the Hong Kong Business Forum.